Film star spurns court over ballot

Film star Brigitte Lin (林青霞) was summoned by the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office yesterday for allegedly displaying her ballot publicly during the presidential election.

But she didn't show up to court. Her lawyer, Ker Jen-kang (葛仁剛), answered the court's 9am summons on behalf of Lin, who is now living in Hong Kong. He asked Prosecutor Wu Chien-hui (吳建輝) to excuse Lin from the day's proceedings.

He also said Lin told him that she would appear if she were summoned again

Ker said that Lin did not mean to publicly display her ballot.

"Everybody knows she has always been a pan-blue camp supporter. That's no secret," Ker said. "The moment when Ms. Lin was alleged to have displayed her ballot, she was actually trying to dry the ink by blowing on it. Nothing more."

Taipei District Prosecutors' Office Spokesman Chen Hung-ta (陳宏達) said, however, that responsibility had to be accepted if there was a breach of the law.

"Prosecutors never summon or indict someone unless there is evidence," Chen said.

"On this occasion, in addition to TV and newspaper coverage, we also received more than six tips which said that Lin had apparently [flashed her ballot]. It is therefore necessary that we talk to her in person," he said.

Lin returned to Taiwan to vote on March 20. After selecting her candidates, she held up the ballot and blew on it. This was visible to TV cameramen and newspaper photographers recording her inside the polling station.

"Lin didn't have to do this to identify herself as a pan-blue supporter," Ker said. "So it must all be a misunderstanding."

Chen did not say whether Wu would summon Lin again, but he said: "It will be very constructive for her reputation and for the public if she comes back and talks to prosecutors in person next time."